Was the Reformation really necessary? The question is posed anew by a comprehensive report from the German Bishops’ Conference. It was published this week to begin the 500th anniversary commemorations of the defining moment in October 1517 when Martin Luther published his famous 95 challenges to established church teaching and practice. The report admits that errors and mistakes were made by the Church in handling Luther’s protests, and that the early Protestants, who wanted at the outset to reform the Church rather than break from it, were never given a fair hearing. It admits also that there was merit in Luther’s protests, particularly over the doctrine of justification, which became the key issue between the two sides.

It is of course not possible to rerun the history of the dispute to see what might have turned out differently had these mistakes and errors not been made. Theological differences quickly became exacerbated by political differences, as emperors, kings and princes took sides and tried to impose their will on their people.